Football game



Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALFRED HUSTWICK, Ol' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FOOTBALL GAME.

Application led March 5, 1928. Serial No. 259,044.

This invention relates to an indoor or table football game in whichprovision has been made to duplicate the moves and plays o-f the actualgame. This invention discloses novel means and combinations thereof soas to allow the game to be played practically in accordance with thestandard rules and regulations of the real game.

An object of this invention is to provide an indoor football game inwhich the element of chance is blended with and modified by the skill ofthe players as in the actual game.

Another object is to provide means for playing a football game inaccordance with methods of play as utilized by various eol-- leges orcoaches. Another object is to provide a football game in which theplayers can exercise at all times an option as to wliatplay can beperformed. Another object is to provide a football game which isextremely simple., does not require needless and dogmatic rules ormethods of play and in which arbitrary rules and regulations have beenpracf' tically eliminated. A still further object is to provide afootball game in which intellectual exertion is required in addition tomechanical skill.

Another object is to provide an indoor football game embracing acombination of means of specific construction.

These and other objects and results of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed descriptlon of the elements embraced hereinand the method of playing the game.

It is acknowledged that other forms of indoor games simulating theoutdoor game of football have been invented heretofore, but none ofthese prior games have utilized men or game pieces of the particulararrangement, construction and mode of operation which I have invented.Neither have these prior men or game pieces been activated, put intoplay and caused to carry out the plays in the manner to be hereinafterdisclosed by me. Furthermore, most of the prior games were so designedthat the succession of the plays was entirely dependent upon chance,while my invention is primarily designed to furnish a game in which theplayer may exercise his skill. Some of the prior games were also sodesigned that physically stronger players had a great advantage overweak players, While the game herein disclosed modifies or nullifies suchphysical strength and introduces an element of mental and physical skillwhich enhances the scope of and pleasure derived from the game.

In describing this invention, reference will be made to the appendeddrawings which show, merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure,a preferable embodiment of my mventlon, it being expressly understoodthat various changes and modifications may be made in practice withinthe scope of the claims without departing fromv my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents one form of minature foot-ball field on which thegame may be played.

Figure 2 shows both a side elevation and a plan view of a movable piece.representing a plurality of linesmen.

Figure 3 shows both a side elevation and a plan view of one form ofbackfieldmen.

Figure 4 gives an elevation and plan vlew of one form of piece designedto represent and be used as a football.

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the method of propelling oractivating the foot- `ball in making a pass or kicking the ball.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another form of piece designed torepresenta football.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a game piece upon which linesmen aremounted, the piece being provided with means for propelling arepresentation of a football.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a combined container adapted toreceive the pieces used in playing the game and to function as goalposts.

Figures 9 to l2 inclusive represent a type of card which is also used inplaying-the game.

' The game may be played upon any suitable field having approximatelythe relative proportions of a football field, for example, the game maybe played upon a fabric, cloth or other suitable board 1 marked off' inthe form of a gridiron with transverse lines thereon representing fiveyard increments. The borders of the field may be suitably marked asshown in Fig. l so as to indicate the total number of yards from theplayers goal. Additional indices may be shown longitudinally of theplaying field and centrally thereof as indicated at 2. Behind each goalline .it is preferred to provide a portion of the board so as to allowthe erection of goal posts thereon when they are needed. leurthermore,it may be desirable to indicate the forty yard lines in a suitablemanner so as to readily certain the position to be assumed at thebeginning of the game or for kick-off. A suitable marker may be placedin the space beyond the goal line as indicated at 3 so as to enable theplayers to keep track of downs, quarters, or the total score.

Instead of using a large number of separate men, I prefer to use onepiece such as is shown in Fig. 2 which represents a plurality oflinesmen. The linesmen 4 may be of any desired size, shape or of anydesired material and are preferably mounted or secured to a unitary base5. In Fig. 2 the linesmen are shown as being merely cylindrical portionsattached to the base 5 and spaced from each other, but it will beunderstood that linesmen of any desired configuration may be used, forexample, they may be carved or'otherwise formed so asvto representuniform figures-in a4 Crouching position, such as is assumed by linesmenin a football game. The base portion 5 is preferably suitably marked asshown in Fig. 2 so as to indicate the character and position of the men.For example, the linesmen may be called from left to right, left end,left tackle, left guard, certer, right guard, right tackle and right enIt will be noticed that eight plays may be made through or around such aline. lFor example, a play may be made around left end by the opposingteam or a play may be made between left end and left tackle, or a playmay be made between left tackle and left guard, etc. For this reason, Iprefer to place the identifying marks such as Left end or L. E. in theopen spaces which are presumed to be protected by the men. The center,for example, protects the space between himself and the uards and,therefore, he protects two openings, left center and right center. Theguards are assumed to protect the opening between the guard and thetackle, the tackle protects the opening between himself and the ends,and the ends protect the open space on each side of the lme. Each teamor each player playing the game is supplied with one unitary piecerepresenting his line.

The backfield men 6 comprising the quarterbacks, halfbacks and fullbacksare independent game pieces which may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3and each player is supplied with four movable backfield pieces so thatthe total number of men represented by the unitary line piece of sevenmen together with the backfield men represents a football team of elevenplayers. It will be understood that if standard football rules andpractice changes` the number of men allowed on the line of scrimmage orthe total number of men comprising a team, the pieces Lesser? hereindescribed may also be changed in a1'- cordance with the rules of thegame so as to conform therewith. The backiield men t5 may be made inaccordance with Fig. 3 or if desired they may be suitably carved,colored or otherwise ornamented in accordance with the desire of themanufacturer.'

The other appurtenances of the game couiprise a small football of anydesired shape or construction. For purposes of illustration, I haveshown a small, fiat. elliptical piece 'l' in Fig. 4 which may be used inlieu of a football. The piece 7 may be formed of bone, pressed paper,composition, or any other suitable material and may be either flat, asshown, or it may be semi-spherical or be thicker at one end or in thecenter. This form of piece may be propelled by the use of a plectrum orboot. 8 made of bone, pyroxylin composition, pressed paper or any othersuitable composition. The plectrum should preferably have a beveled orpointed lower end and the elliptical piece 7 representing the footballmay be propelled during passing or kicking the ball by slipping theplcctrum 8 ofl' one end of the piece 7 while exerting a slight pressureupon the plectrum. In Fig. G a different form of piece is shown andcomprises a flat, elliptical piece 9 having a spring 10attached theretoat one end so that by exerting a pressure at the upper end of the piece9 and then quickly releasing the same. the piece is caused to travelupward and describe an arc such as would occur if a ball were kicked.

The linesmen 4 may` be mounted upon a common base 11 such as is shown inFig. 7, the base l1 having means permanently or detachably attachedthereon adapted to propel a football. These means may comprise a spring12 attached to the base 1l and having suitable fingers 13 or other meansthereon to support a representation of a football, for example, aminiature football 14 which may have a weighted end to minimize rolling.When this enlarged base 1l is used the ba kfield men 6 may be positionedupon the base so that when the line is shifted, the entire base is movedto go through with the backfield` simplifyingv the operation.

Each player is also provided with a pack of cards such as areillustrated in Figs. 9 to l2. A pack may comprise from about thirty tofifty cards. Each card has thereon one scrimmage play or line buck andone other defensive or offensive play, such as a return, penalty orforward pass. It will be remembered that in the scrimmage line such asis represented by the piece shown in Fig. Q bea-ring seven men offersthe possibility of eight different plays through the lines inas-' muchas there are eight openings through and around such line. For ease inplaying, each of the cards is marked with the position or hole throughwhich the scrimmage' play manner Fig. 10 indicates a card which gives vthe player the option of eithei making a line buck through right centerfor a gain of four yards, or allows him to make a forward pass. Fig. 1lgives the player an option of either endeavoring to make a scrimmageplay through right guard for two yards, or if the occasion warrants, thereturn of opponents punt for fifteen yards. Fig. 12 indicates a cardgiving the player the option of either gaining seven yards through lefttackle or imposing a penalty of ten yards upon the opponent. A deck offorty cards o this character may be well made up in view of the factthat there are eight holes in the scrimmage line, thereby allowing fiveplays for each hole.

The relation of the various pieces and the purpose of the various pla-ysindicated on the cards will be more clearly brought out by the followingdetailed description of certain plays in a game. After each player hasbeen given a deck of cards and the winner of the toss of a coin decidedwhether he intends to kick o' or receive the ball, each player thenshuflies his cards and after his opponent has cut them, deals himself adefinite number, say four cards, face down, and places the remainder ofthe deck of cards face down at one side of the playing board .or field.

Then two forward lines or pieces, as shown in Fig. 2, or Fig. 7, arethen set facing each other at a suitable distance from each other withthe forty yard line midway between them. The ball 7 is placed in thecenter of the field on the forty yard line. The backfield pieces 6 (eachplayer having four of these), are disposed in any suitable positionbehind each team. The player who kicks off then picks up his plectrum orboot 8 and snaps the edge of the ball 7, making it go as far into hisopponents territory as possible. The ball may be placed behind theplayers forward line if desired when making a kick, or in the holder ofspring 12 when the piece shown in Fig. 7 is used.

If the ball upon being kicked goes over a side line, it is moved in to apoint approximately twenty yards from the side line in line with thespot at which it went outside. A marker 15 indicating the position ofthe bail is then placed on the right hand side of the board which isgenerally inscribed so as to indicate the total number of yards from theplayers goal to the opponentils goal. Another marker 16 is placed inposition ten yards ahead of the marker 15 which indicates the presentposition of the ball so that the number of yards to be made for a firstdown is always indicated by these markers. The exact construction of themarkers 15 and lrmay be varied very materially without departing fromthis invention, the particular form shown in the drawings being merelyilustrative of a device of thisnaturevandits, l use. After a kick theopponent then hasthe privilege of playing a return card, that is, a cardcalling for a return. For example, if the opponent were to have the fourcards in his hand shown in Figs. 9 to 12, then the opponent could placethe card, shown in Fig. 11 face up at one side of the playing field andcall for a return of fifteen yards. The ball would then be moved fifteenyards back toward the kickers own goal line and the player who haskicked ofl' would lose possession of the ball.A As soon as the opponenthas played a card, such as, for example, the 'card shown in Fig. 11, hewould immediately pick up another card from the remainder of the deck'and place it in his hand. In this way, every player has four cards (orany predetermined number)` in his possession at all times, therebyallowing from the plays indicated on his cards.

The player who now has possession of the ball, lines up his team orscrimmage line immediately in back of. the point at which the ball isput into play and his opponent similarly lines up his forward line tooppose him. The player who now has possession of the ball consults hishand of preferably four cards. Although he may kick or punt the ball atwill without using a card, alll other plays must be made by playing acard calling either for a scrimmage play, a pass or afield goal. Afterthe player who has possession of the ball selects the card which hedesires to play, for example, the card shown in Fig. 9, he places thatcard face down on the table and indicates to his opponent that he isready to play. His opponent then moves his four movable backfield men inany desired position so as to plug up or block any four of the eightopenings through which a scrimmage play may be made. For example, theopponent may have placed his movable backlield men in the holes oropenings marked left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle.After the opponent has thus placed hisl men and signified that he isready, the player then turns the previously selected card face up andinasmuch as this indicates again of twenty yards through left end andthe left end hole has not been blocked by his opponent, then the play issuccessful and the ball is advanced twenty yards. In view of the factthat the gain has been made `through left end, the ball is not advancedlongihim to make a. selection lol) llU

tudinally down the field parallel to its original position in front ofthe center, but is moved toward the left suiiieiently so as to advanceit twenty yards down the field and assume a position transverse to theboard which it would have if the ball had actually been run around leftend. lVhen play is resumed, the scrimmage lines 5 bearing the men 4 arealso slightly moved towards the left so that the center is opposite theball. In this wa not only are the teams advanced longitudinally down theboard with each play if a gain is made, but they are also movedtransversely across the board, theirtransverse movement depending uponthe actual location of the play through which the gain has been made.

A further illustration of the method of playing is shown in Fig. 1.Assuming that the team on the right hand side of the field haspossession of the ball, it will be noticed that marker 15 indicates thatthe ball is on the seventy-five ard line and that eight yards are to bema e for a first down. The indicator 3 beyond the goal line on theplaying field 1 indicates that it is now second down. The right handside player chooses a card from the four present in his hand and lays itface down on one side of the playing field. His opponent, the player onthe left hand en d of the board, then moves his four movable backfieldpieces 6 in any desired position so as to block four holes or fourscrimmage plays. For example, he blocks, as shown in Fig. 1, left end,left guard, right guard, and right end. The right hand player then turnsthis card face up and let us assume that this is the card shown in Fig.12 indicating a gain of seven yards through left tackle. In view of thefact that the left end player has not blocked thel opening left tacklethe play is successful and the right hand player gains seven yards, theball being put into play on the eighty-two yard line. In view of thefact that the play has been made through left tackle, the scrimmagelines 5 are moved toward the center of the field so as to assume aposition indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the game is resumedwith third down and one yard to go.

It will be seen that the defense consists in moving movable backfieldmen into position so as to prevent the offense from completing ascrimmage play. It is true that there are eight openings through whichscrimmage plays may be made While the defense only has four backfieldmen with which to block eight plays, but the defense is allowed to movethe blocking backfield after the offense has selected its play andbefore it is announced. Numerous games have been played with the abovedescribed equipment and remarkably close scores made after an hour ormore of playing and very often the offense will move down to, say thetwo or three yard line and be successfully held there for four downs,thereby losing the ball. This indicates the similitude between the gameas played with this arrangement and comblnation of means and the actualoutdoor football game.

If a pla-yer has reached third down and has still. several yards to goor if at any time it is adv1sable to punt, he does not necessarily haveto play a card, but announces a punt or kick. T he opponent has theprivilege of arranging his four backfield men in any desired posit1on soas to receive the punt and the player then proceeds to propel the ballforward with the plectrum, boot or other means. If the ball strikes oneof his op onents forwards or hnesmen and bounces ofi) it is a blockedpunt and goes to the opponent where it comes to rest on the board. If itgoes outside over the sidelines, it is the opponents ball in the samemanner as that described du-rin kick ofi". If it goes over the goal linewlthout striking one of the opponents men on its way, it goes into playin the opponents possession on his twenty yard line. If it drops clearanywhere on the field it can' be returned by the opponent who simplyplays a card from his hand reading Return yards (if he has such a card)and moves the ball back the required distan: e and takes possession ofit.

If a player holds in his hand a card marked Pass he may play it faceupward on his discarded pack or formerly played cards indicating thatheis going to play a forward pass. His opponent then draws back hismovable backfield men and arranges them as he see fit. The player makingthe pass may then move one of his own backs beyond the opposing team toany desired point so as to act as a receiver of the forward pass. Theplayer then tries with the boot, spring or other means to jump the ballso that it will hit the backfield man that he has placed to receive it.If he succeeds, it is a completed pass and the ball remains in hispossession where it comes to rest. If the ball misses his receiving backit is an incomplete pass and the player loses a down. In accordance withthe present day rules two incomplete passes in one series of four downsincurs a five yard penalty. If the ball being passed strikes anopponents man it is an intercepted pass and goes into play in opponentspossession where it comes to rest. If the ball strikes a man of theopponents team after striking the receiver which it is ailned at,.

the play is called a fumble and the ball goes to the player whose man itlast struck.

It will be seen that all of the plays of the actual game can be executedwith great similarity and in perfect accord with the rules of thestandard outdoor game. It will be understood that if the standard rulesare changed, the rules underlying the playing of the herein describedgame may also be changed.

Penalties, whlch are also 1nd1cated on a.

few of .the cards comprising a players pack, may only be inflicted uponthe opponents scrimmage plays. For example, if a player is in a. tightspot and has been unable to stop gains through his line` he may, inorder to nullify a successful and rather disastrous gain, play a penaltycard. The opponent does not lose his down but the ball goes backwhatever yardage is shown on the card from the point it occupied priorto the play.

If a player has a card marked Field goal in his hand and the ball isactually on or within his opponents thirty yard line, the player may, bylaying the card face up, shoot at the goa Any proportional goal post ornet may be used or one of the portions of the box such as is shown inFig. 8 may be stood Von end behind the goal line as reguired by therules to act as a goal post. I the ball crosses the goal between theposts a field goal is scored and counts three points.

Other methods of scoring, such as touchdown, conversion and safeties maybe made in the same manner that they are made in the actual game. Veryfew if any, rules not embraced by the standard football game practicecome up or need be remembered in playing the game in accordance withmy'invention. It has been found desirable, however, to formulate a rulewhich penalizes a player five yards whenever it is found that he holdsmore than four cards in his hand at any one time. The opponent of theplayer thus penalized has the option of selecting one card from his handand discarding it.

Four players may participate in the game, two of the players playing thecards in the first quarter with their partners actin as time keepers andlinesmen and in consu ting capacity as coaches. At the end of eachquarter the partners change places So that each gets a chance to playhalf of the game. 1`he duration of the game may vary in accordance withthe players desires and the game may be played for only a certain periodor the termination of the game may -be reached when a player uses up allof his cards.

The packs of cards with which each player is provided may be so designedas to be representative of a type of game as played by nationally knownfootball coaches or teams. An average football game played by certainteams will be found to have a certain proportion of scrimmage plays, acertain proportion of passes attempted. and Very often a certainoutstanding type of line play. For example, one team may be particularlysuccessful in executing gains through the ends and tackle, while anotherteam may depend upon most of their scrimmage line gains for playsthrough the center or guards. By pro ortioning the cards or the playsenumerate thereon in accordance with the type of play represented by acertain football team,

it is possible to play the game in accordance with my invention withgreat similarity to an actual football game as played by any particularfootball team. In this way I may 'prepare decks representing teams ascoached by well known coaches such as Alonzo St-ag, Knute Rockne, HowardJones, etc. 'Ihe game, therefore, not only enables the players to derivepleasure therefrom but may be used for educational purposes.

I claim:

1. A football game comprising a miniature football playing field, a gamepiece representing a. plurality of linesmen immovable to each other, aplurality of separate movable pieces representing back-field men, apiece representing a football, and means for actuating the football whenmaking a kick or pass.

2. A football game comprising a miniature football playing field, a gamepiece representing a plurality of linesmen, a plurality of separatepieces representing backfield men adapted to be positioned in openingsbetween linesmen and a deck of cards each bearing a line play andanother type of play.

3. A football game comprising a miniature football playing field,indices along Ithe length of said field to indicate the distance betweengoal lines, movable means forindieating the position of the ball whilein play, a plurality of game pieces representing football linesmenmounted upon a common base, means for propelling a representation of afootball mounted upon said base and-a plurality of separate movablepieces representing backfield men, and adapted to be placed in openingbetween said linesmen.

4. A football game comprising a miniature football playing field, aplurality of game pieces representing football linesmen mounted upon acommon base, means for propelling a miniature football mounted upon saidbase, a plurality of separable movable-pieces representing backfield menand a deck of cards each bearing a line play and another type of play,the deck being played one at a tlme from a plurality of said cards in ahand.

5. An indoor football game comprising a miniature football field, aplurality of gamev pieces representing linesmen mounted in a ine upon acommon base, spring means attached to said base adapted to propel arepresentation of a football and a plurality of separate movable piecesrepresenting backfield men adapted to be positioned on said base andguard openings between said linesmen.

6. In a football game, the combination of a plurality of game piecesrepresenting football linesmen mounted upon a common base, a pluralityof separate movable pieces representing backfield men and adapted to bepositioned in openings between linesmen, and a deck of cards eachbearing a line play and another type of play, said cards being markedwith the position of the linesmen through which said line plays are tobe made.

A 7 A football game comprising a miniature 5 football field, a gamepiece representing a plurality of lioesmen, a plurality of separatemovable pieces representing backfield men and adapted to be positionedin openings between linesmen, a representation of a football, means foractuating and moving said l0 football, and a deck of cards each bearinga line play and another type of play, each cardv being marked with theposition of the linesman through which Said plays are to be made.

` Signed at Los Ainfieles, California, this l5

